Here is the BevNet article about it. For those that don’t know, Coca-Cola has released and began distributing a 1.5 liter bottle of Coke with the memorable contours of their brand’s other products. However, while only 75% the size of the 2-liter bottles, it’s often being priced only pennies less than its older brother.
Sure, the smaller bottle means it’ll stay fizzier longer, but what do you, the cognoscenti, think about it?
When Diet Lime Coke (gift of the gods, BTW) came out, the local WalMonster had a special on it. Little Vorlon noticed it, then noticed the 2 litre and the 20oz were the same price. “But Dad—you could put three of the little bottles in the big one, and they cost the same?”
Not too bad for a just-turned-eight-year-old. Marketing types will rue the day he was born…
Not so long ago, I read an interview with the CEO of Stoneyfield Farms. He said that 6 oz yogurts at the same price was what the customers demanded! :rolleyes:
Hmm. Sodas have been sold in 1.5 liter bottles here for over a decade. But that was a move up - from 1 liter bottles. The size change also marked the change from glass to plastic. But the plastic bottles here are much thicker than the relatively flimsy plastic of the 2 liter bottles in the States; they are deposit bottles, washed and reused an average of 20 times according to the soda companies.
Personally I like the size, since 1.5 liters is just about perfect for Family Movie Nights for us - two glasses each for four people. But if they were reducing the size of the bottle without reducing the price? No, I would not be a happy camper.
I’ve noticed Coke has been trying to reduce the size of their drinks for a while now. I’ve seen 8 oz. cans and 18-can boxes in the stores. I can’t imagine why anyone would buy an 8 oz can of Coke when they could buy a 12 oz can for the same price or even cheaper. The same for the 18-can boxes. I’m guessing their hope is that no one will realize that 18 cans for $5 is a worse deal than 24 cans for $5.50.
And last year Coke got a nasty email from me when they subtly switched from 20 oz bottles in a six-pack to .5 Liter (16.9 oz) bottles. I dind’t notice the change until I happened to set a new bottle next to an old one I used for watering my plant on my workdesk.
Less Coke, same price. I was outraged, but then realized Pepsi had done the same damn thing (not that I’d have switched to Pepsi, but still)